MHP reports reduction of traffic deaths

Colonel Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, is pleased to announce Missouri has experienced a strong reduction in traffic fatalities since 2005.

Staff Reports

Colonel Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, is pleased to announce Missouri has experienced a strong reduction in traffic fatalities since 2005.

Preliminary statistics indicate that Missouri recorded 741 traffic fatalities in 2013. This is a 41 percent decrease from the 1,257 fatalities recorded in 2005. Each year for the past seven year period, with the exception of 2012's slight increase, the number of traffic deaths has dropped.

The patrol said 113 of those fatalities happened in the Southwest Missouri area of Troop D, including three people killed in two accidents in Newton and McDonald counties on Dec. 26 and a pedestrian killed while trying to cross Interstate 44 in the Springfield area on Dec. 27.

Historically, based on the preliminary data, this is only the second time, 2011 was the first, since 1949 that Missouri has experienced less than 800 traffic fatalities. Not only have traffic deaths decreased, but the total number of traffic crashes has decreased as well. While the total crash information for 2013 is not available at this point, from 2005 to 2012 the total of all Missouri traffic crashes decreased 21 percent.

"This is an important trend that the Patrol would like to see continue," said Col. Replogle. "Every trooper is committed to working with other agencies to further reduce the number of traffic deaths in our state. We believe education and enforcement encourage safe driving, which results in fewer traffic fatalities. I want to thank the public for helping to make this year safer than last year."

Of the 741 people killed in traffic crashes in 2013, 63% of those required to be restrained, were not at the time of the crash. The Patrol encourages motorists to protect themselves by making sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Click It 4 Life!

The Missouri State Highway Patrol urges motorists to continue to do their part to keep the numbers moving in the right direction.

• Motorists should be courteous drivers. • When in doubt, yield the right-of-way. • Drivers should stay alert, obey all traffic laws, make sure everyone in the vehicle uses a seat belt, and never drink and drive. • Missourians can help further make the roads safe by reporting dangerous drivers to the Patrol’s Emergency Report Line at 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone.